I would like to thank Ms Mavis Toh for her very interesting article on mixed marriages ('Four in 10 S'poreans marry foreigners', Oct12).

I myself am married to a Japanese dentist.

I think the trend of Singaporeans marrying foreigners will continue for as long as the Government allows foreigners to live and work in Singapore - which is a fantastic thing.

On the issue of citizenship for the children of these couples, I agree with sociologist Paulin Straughan that 'Singapore may end up losing talents if the other parent is from a First World country'.

I think Singapore is on a par with any First World country when it comes to education and standard of living. But a major factor in the possible brain drain may have to do with Singapore's strict citizenship laws.

I have a young son, whom I would love to have taken up Singapore citizenship, in addition to his current Japanese one. However, Singapore does not recognise dual citizenship.

Singapore, being a small country, needs all the manpower it has to protect itself, so the citizenship issue is understandable. But in time, as more Singaporeans continue to marry foreigners, the Government may have to rethink its citizenship laws.

Constance Ishikawa (Mrs)
Osaka, Japan

This letter was first published in The Straits Times on 26 Oct, 2008.

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